Resident wants action on fly-tipping yards from Cookstown centre

Someone has been fly-tipping on Monkey Lane for the last year says a resident

He said the residential street, which is just yards from the town centre, has long been a hang-out for drinkers but after the council put in street lights the situation improved.

Over the past year, however, the local - who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals - said things are starting to escalate again.

And that, as well as those who use the lane as a place to either drink alcohol or urinate, those living in the alley’s 12 homes have to put up with constant fly-tipping, graffiti, the removal of CCTV signs and a growing mass of weeds.

“The paper had in Looking Good, Looking Great - and there - a few yards off the town centre you have fly tipping and they can’t get to the bottom of it,” he said.

“It’s going on about a year. It builds up and builds up in the lane and then the council will come and take it away - [but] it’s no sooner away a day or two, when another bag appears and it builds up again.

“It could lie there maybe a month and a half before the council lifts it, and only that there’s a few wee cats about there would be rats because there’s actual food.”

Aware of “illegal dumping in Monkey Lane”, a spokesperson for Mid Ulster council said it is “an on-going issue” and that “staff inspect and clear the area on a regular basis”.

Calls for council to do more about the residential street yards from the town centre

“We investigate every complaint and make every effort to trace offenders,” they added, “with a successful prosecution for littering last year.”

Calling for help to trace the offenders, they added: “We value the public’s help in reporting issues and would encourage anyone who can identify those responsible to contact us. We would also urge those who dump their rubbish to stop now and use the services available.”

As well as the constant build up of black bags, furniture, a mattress, TV and carpet have all been dumped on James Street near Central Close in the past.

And the rubbish that is currently there has been there for three weeks the resident said.

Other problems on the street include antisocial behaviour, graffiti and weeds.

“People are sitting on the fire escape during the week and then they smash the bottles all over the place,” he went on.

“Now even all the weeds, which used to kept under control, now’s all coming up.

“It’s gone back to the way it used to be.

“How can they not catch the people that’s doing it when it’s right beside the town centre?” He asked.